United Wifi is Unusable / Problems Connecting to United_Wi-Fi
Dec 7, 2014, 4:20 pm
#91
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 923
WiFi shuts off at border??
I am flying internationally tomorrow and due to scheduling, have no choice but to send timely docs while en route. I'll be in F and .bomb reads for my flight:
Assuming that the WiFi will work, my question is this: does WiFi actually work up to the border and then turn off near the vicinity? I've looked at the flight path and if today's path is accurate, will have about ~3.5h over the US. Thus, would it be safe to assume I have about 3.5hr (less time to 10k) work time and transmission time? Also, I recognize that I can track position but I am trying to plan now
TIA
A beta version of United Wi-Fi, with connectivity within the continental U.S., is available for purchase on this flight.
TIA
Dec 7, 2014, 5:00 pm
#92
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
I am flying internationally tomorrow and due to scheduling, have no choice but to send timely docs while en route. I'll be in F and .bomb reads for my flight:
Assuming that the WiFi will work, my question is this: does WiFi actually work up to the border and then turn off near the vicinity? I've looked at the flight path and if today's path is accurate, will have about ~3.5h over the US. Thus, would it be safe to assume I have about 3.5hr (less time to 10k) work time and transmission time? Also, I recognize that I can track position but I am trying to plan now
TIA
A beta version of United Wi-Fi, with connectivity within the continental U.S., is available for purchase on this flight.
TIA
Dec 7, 2014, 5:08 pm
#93
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: NYC
Programs: UA 1K, GE/Nexus, Marriott Gold
Posts: 266
I am flying internationally tomorrow and due to scheduling, have no choice but to send timely docs while en route. I'll be in F and .bomb reads for my flight:
Assuming that the WiFi will work, my question is this: does WiFi actually work up to the border and then turn off near the vicinity? I've looked at the flight path and if today's path is accurate, will have about ~3.5h over the US. Thus, would it be safe to assume I have about 3.5hr (less time to 10k) work time and transmission time? Also, I recognize that I can track position but I am trying to plan now
TIA
A beta version of United Wi-Fi, with connectivity within the continental U.S., is available for purchase on this flight.
TIA
However, I would not, repeat NOT, count on UA wifi for anything mission critical.
Dec 7, 2014, 5:24 pm
#94
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,694
Dec 7, 2014, 8:01 pm
#96
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Programs: UA PM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 1,293
Dec 7, 2014, 9:05 pm
#97
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP, lowly UA 1K; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold; National EC, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,215
I flew on a 737 that had wifi last week from ORD-SFO. The FA made the announcement along the lines of "This plane has wifi, it will be enabled at 10K feet, but it usually does not work and there is nothing we can do to fix it other than try to restart the system". Indeed, it did not work even after the restart.
Compared to my VX flight earlier in the week. I am still wondering why I choose to stick with UA.
Compared to my VX flight earlier in the week. I am still wondering why I choose to stick with UA.
Dec 7, 2014, 9:05 pm
#98
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,939
I wonder whether the system allows for any remote management? I've noticed a number of hotel systems going to this model and it seems to work well when I've called the support line.
OTOH, on the plane there's the catch-22 problem where there's no way to contact support if the network is down.
Since we're going with anecdotal info here wifi internet worked fine on two flights I was recently on - a 737 LAS-SFO and a 777 SFO-HNL. One interesting bit is realizing that I could only chat with my iMessage friends rather than text. I wonder if the cellular carriers have a text over wifi solution upcoming?
OTOH, on the plane there's the catch-22 problem where there's no way to contact support if the network is down.
Since we're going with anecdotal info here wifi internet worked fine on two flights I was recently on - a 737 LAS-SFO and a 777 SFO-HNL. One interesting bit is realizing that I could only chat with my iMessage friends rather than text. I wonder if the cellular carriers have a text over wifi solution upcoming?
Dec 7, 2014, 9:08 pm
#99
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP, lowly UA 1K; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold; National EC, Hertz PC
Posts: 2,215
I don't understand why, if it is satellite wifi, it only starts after 10k feet. This seems to be a UA limitation not a physical system limitation. Other airlines have gate-to-gate satellite wifi, does anyone know why UAs is not?
Dec 7, 2014, 9:39 pm
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,694
Dec 7, 2014, 10:12 pm
#101
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
I flew on a 737 that had wifi last week from ORD-SFO. The FA made the announcement along the lines of "This plane has wifi, it will be enabled at 10K feet, but it usually does not work and there is nothing we can do to fix it other than try to restart the system". Indeed, it did not work even after the restart.
Compared to my VX flight earlier in the week. I am still wondering why I choose to stick with UA.
Compared to my VX flight earlier in the week. I am still wondering why I choose to stick with UA.
Just had completely inop wifi today. No login page, error page, flight info, nothing. Connected to the network and stared at a blank screen.
Dec 8, 2014, 3:12 am
#102
Join Date: May 2007
Location: variously: PVG, SFO, LHR
Programs: AA ExPlat, UA 1MM Gold, Hyatt Glob, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat, HH Gold
Posts: 1,678
I am flying internationally tomorrow and due to scheduling, have no choice but to send timely docs while en route. I'll be in F and .bomb reads for my flight:
Assuming that the WiFi will work, my question is this: does WiFi actually work up to the border and then turn off near the vicinity? I've looked at the flight path and if today's path is accurate, will have about ~3.5h over the US. Thus, would it be safe to assume I have about 3.5hr (less time to 10k) work time and transmission time? Also, I recognize that I can track position but I am trying to plan now
TIA
A beta version of United Wi-Fi, with connectivity within the continental U.S., is available for purchase on this flight.
TIA
Of course YMMV depending on where you're headed and I wouldn't count on it working past the USA borders but it does appear there is substantial leakage of signal past the border.
Dec 8, 2014, 6:51 am
#103
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: CoUniHound 1K 1MM, AA EXP 2MM, DL Plat, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 1,625
Dec 8, 2014, 7:17 am
#104
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
And, yes, Gogo has a sms over wifi solution deployed with TMO.